Wednesday, August 31, 2011

A memoir written by a self proclaimed "condescending, smart-ass, surly ex-sorority girl", who made an extremely large income as a VP at a big company and then was laid off and consequently lost her swanky apartment, had to sell all her designer handbags, borrow money from her parents, and move to what she calls "the 'hood". This book is her first and it is laugh out loud funny. Jen holds nothing back and she tells the 100% true story of her life and is not afraid to admit she was as bad as she comes across in the book. (As she so eloquently points out on the back cover of her book and in the prologue--she is the "tragic hero of the book, and the bitch had it coming".) Her first 3 books have gotten such rave reviews so I read those 3, and I have to say I loved all 3 and found myself finishing each one in a matter of a day and a half and laughing hysterically at some of the things she comes out with. Bitter is the New Black is her first, then Bright Lights, Big Ass, followed by Such a Pretty Fat--all of which I highly recommend. She even has her own website which she updates daily. Great reads and she's hilarious!

Cora Cash, a wealthy American heiress, travels abroad with her mother in the 1890s to find and marry a titled Englishman. This is an excellent historical fiction novel mixed with a little romance. Scandal, intrigue, secrets, history, bold characters...this book is a delight! I couldn't put it down--you will love Cora...even as a Duchess!

This is the follow up of Greedy Bones. Sarah and her PI partner, Tinkie, are recouping from their life changing adventures. They decide to take a mini-vacation and wind up having to solve a mystery. While they still face the aftermath of the previous book these ladies face danger with hope and belief. A nice semi-light read after the darker previous book.

The darkest Sarah Booth mystery yet. Laced with a feel of Hot Zone, this mystery leads to a very sad time for Sarah just when things appear to be going so well. It also makes you ponder what is really important in life and what we are willing to do to get it. A lot of loss in this mystery but there is a glimmer of light at the end of this book.

Author: Carolyn Haines
Stars: 4
Review by: Saraswati
Destination: Hollywood & Costa RicaSarah Booth's dreams of becoming an actor have come to fruition. As with most things, be careful for what you wish for. She and her PI partner, Tinkie, go on a wild mystery chase. They learn that sometimes the easiest path is not the correct path. There is also love in the air and a kicker at the end that leads into the next book in the series.

Author: Isis Crawford
Stars: 2
Review by: Saraswati
Destination: NYThe most recent Simmons Sister mystery was a little tough to get through. It felt like someone took the game Clue and tried to make it a book. It was ok, but got sluggish in parts. The series does have a way with people and obsessions that make it slightly different.

Author: Isis Crawford
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
Destination: NY Another mystery for the Simmons sisters to solve. The real catch of this story is the extreme animal lovers and all the industries and obsessions surrounding them.

Author: Mark Dunn
Stars: 4
Review by: Mich D
Destination: Island off the southeast coast of US About an island town that bases its principles on the guy who wrote the phrase, "The quick brown fox...". They have the alphabet hanging in town and when a tile falls, they think it is a message and they can no longer use that letter. But then, more tiles fall. The story is told in letters back and forth. Creative and fun.

Author: Jenny White
Stars: 5
Review by: smudge
Destination: Istanbul, Ottoman Empire (Turkey)This story of murder and intrigue takes place when the Ottoman Empire and the power of the sultans are disappearing as foreign powers and new ideas are taking over. Not only is the story good, it is well told.

Author: Paul Rudnick
Stars: 4
Review by: Mich D
Destination: NY & NJHysterical book written by the guy who did the screenplay for the movies In and Out, Adams Family Values and lots more. Parts are non-fiction about his life in NJ and in NYC, but it is interspersed with fictional accounts about this character whom I can't even describe - maybe Felix Unger to the nth degree. Very funny book!

Author: Chris Cleave
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Barbie
Destination: Nigeria & England I really enjoyed the writing in this book, the character development and the twists that make it stand out. Not to give away secrets or magic, I do warn that the well written descriptive passages of brutality did make me gasp. However, the love between the female characters will always prevail. Not a book I would have picked up on my own, but a book that I am glad to have read.

Author: Michael Hingson with Susy Flory
Stars: 4.5
Review by: JamBob
Destination: World Trade Towers on 9/11 (NY)Finally read my "could not put down" book of the season. When I listened to the reports of survivors from 9/11 one story caught my ear immediately and that one involved a blind man leaving the 78th floor of Tower One with his guide dog. What an incredible story of determination that begins from birth for this man and his dog. His story is interposed between the events of 9/11 about his life and how he got a job in the Tower in the first place. Truly extraordinary! Of course we learn to marvel at the guide dog herself named Roselle. What amazing animals these dogs are along with inspirational people who train them.

After reading this book your eyes will be open to the world of handicapped people and their struggle to become productive members of society despite the aura of prejudice that surrounds them, unneccessarily created by people without disabilities. It is a short book and I highly recommend it to everyone for an inside view of the Towers that day, the life and death perspective of the survivors, the monumental will to live despite not knowing any of the circumstances at the time and in the face of overwhelming tragedy. Everyone in that stairwell was "blind" that day and Michael's physical disability actually becomes his asset. But you will fall in love with Roselle whose training and determination did not fail her when she was asked to reach over and beyond her animal instincts to conquer fear in a situation no trainer or handler could have anticipated.

So why the 4.5 stars? It is not prose but a quickly written type of narrative, it concentrated more on the life of the man than the events of 9/11 and I felt there is one misplaced political line referring to Pres. Bush and his whereabouts that day. HOWEVER, based upon the life achievements of this man and the dog(s) that guided him through life....this book is a 10!

Any book that takes me to Key West is a good book, and this one was pretty good. Patterson and his co-writter M.L. put together a decent thriller with a strong main character that kept me reading well past my bedtime to get to the end. I have been disappointed at some of Pattersons books, but this is a nice, easy, entertaining one.

I listened to this on audio in the car. The first third was very slow, but once Marina got to the jungle the story became so involving that I was reluctant to stop the car! Action, danger, mystery, intrigue...I would have given it a 5 if not for the slow start!

Alexendrie, a fictional character, becomes a ballerina because of her love of dance and the need to provide for herself and family. She becomes the favorite model of Degas with whom she falls in love. However, she must choose between love and a financially secure future. The story accurately portrays the period of Degas, a difficult person, when he was painting ballet dancers. The story about a ballerina's life is very interesting however, a very few sources about a dancer's life are cited in the bibliography so it is difficult to know what it true and what is not. The story was interesting although the ending was disappointing.

A hysterical look into what is now infamously known as "The Bronx Zoo" era of the Yankees. Sparky Lyle lays it all out there for readers and depicts just what is was like playing for the Yankees in 1978--it truly was a zoo. With the infamous volitale relationship between Steinbrenner and manager Billy Martin, the fights between Billy and Reggie Jackson, and all the clubhouse shennigans, it's a wonder the Yankees went on to win as many championships as they did during this era. At one point in the 78 season they were 14 games behind Boston, and they came back, not only to be #1 in the division, but to win the World Series! If you're a Yankee fan this book is for you. It gives you an inside look into the beginning years of Steinbrenner's ownership (and how out of control he was) and the comments made by some of the best and most loved Yankees will have you laughing out loud. Third baseman Graig Nettles summed up the book perfectly when he said, "some kids want to grow up and run off with the circus, and some kids want to play baseball, and I get to do both."

The story of the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, begun in 1857,(taking 70 years to complete)and the two men who played primary roles in it's development. Very interesting story though I found the writing to be somewhat convoluted.

The latest book in the MacLachlan family & friends series. It is the story of Anaïs de Rohan & Geoff Archard, Lord Bessett. Secret societies, special psychic gifts, evil, lust, romance and humor make this a very nice summer read.

The continuing story of Sarah Booth Delaney, defunct Daddy's Girl, turned PI. This time she is the center of her investigation. The story wants her to give up the past while having the past shoved in her face. The end sets us on a new path and venue.

This is the story of Jon Blackhawk and Joceline Perry. In typical Palmer style a strong male sets out to protect a younger female. There is a slight twist in the story that becomes apparent very quickly. Still not a bad summer read.

The story of the Dark-Hunter Sundown. This book changes pantheons and focuses on Native American lore. It is a nice change of pace. The love story is a little fast paced but the continued question of destiny - your choice or the choice of others makes it a good read.

I did the book on CD. It made me want to learn to knit. I have already started a scarf. The book is a little cheesy. But it celebrates women getting together, which was the point back in the day for knitting and quilting.

As always, an enjoyable Siddons read, however I must have missed something along the way, and I didn't really understand the ending. Or perhaps I just didn't like the ending. Enjoyed reading about the South.

Despite a slow, textbook-like start, this mystery is an interesting and compelling read...especially knowing that it was written in a similar vain to the Shaara books in that the core information (and personality traits) of the 4 main characters is non-fiction though the story itself is fiction.

Vernon L. Moore, a mysterious saleman, arrives in the town of Ebb. Befriending the inhabitants, he listens to their stories and asks them intriguing questions that help them see their lives differently. An excellent story complete with humor, logic, mystery, and strong women.

Savich and Sherlock are back but the story is really about Agts Lucy Carlyle and Cooper McKnight. Set a very special serial killer on the loose, add a little paranormal activity, chases, and romance and you have a great read.

5th book in the aka A Mystery of the Mississippi Delta series. The story line is getting more complex as the characters come into themselves. More self realization and personal conflicts along with the murder mystery. The ghost aspect really makes the series fun and sometimes thought provoking. Not high thoughts, but thoughts nonetheless.

The Wedding is the sequel to The Notebook. It's essentially about a couple who have been married for thirty years. When the husband misses their wedding anniversary, he begins to clearly see his wife's discontent.

Marina Singh, a research scientist with a pharmaceutical company, is sent to Brazil to find out what happened to her predecessor and the status of research on a fertility drug being investigated by her former mentor for the company. Mystery and an abundance of tropical flora and fauna accompanies her as she travels via an Amazon tributary to her own "heart of darkness." There are beautifully drawn characters and stunning descriptions of the jungle as Marina makes her way in an adventurous and life-changing voyage. I liked it even more than her award-winning Bel Canto.

This is another in my hot summer/cold reading choices. I read it with a huge National Geographic map, although the front and end papers have a drawing of the territory the author covered. Traveling by train, foot, & truck his descriptions of this large mass of land, the people he finds, the places he descends into are rich, poetry really. If you were not sighted and heard this book, the experience would guide you through a place of mystery and misery. Colin Thubron was searching for what remained after the Stalin years, was there faith, tradition? This is one adventure I am happy to have in my armchair.

This hot summer, I am reading about cold locations. In this Henry Tibbett mystery, the British police inspector and his wife, Emmy, are on a ski vacation mixed with smuggling, murders, and romance. It is a fast,undemanding read.

This account of Frank Lloyd Wright's life with his mistress, Mamah Borthwick Cheney, could have been shorter. It felt like it was dragging along in spots. But it gave me an appreciation of the architect and his work.

Untold Story is a fantasy in which Diana, Princess of Wales, fakes her death with the help of her loyal Secretary and takes on a new persona in the American Midwest. She moves to a small town in Illinois, works part time with an animal rescue organization, and has a circle of friends, who know her as Lydia. Constantly on her mind is the possibility of being discovered. While I thought much of the book was plodding and the characters, for the most part, indistinguishable, the plot finally gained interest in the final third. I was attracted to the book by its author, Monica Ali, who wrote the brilliant Brick Lane. Sadly, I was disappointed.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Here are some new titles coming out this week. Check them out from the library and see where they take you…

Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger (Atria Books)

Discovering a murdered teen while stranded by a gale on the remote Lake of the Woods, detective Cork O'Connor and his daughter, Jenny, also discover a mysterious baby boy whose life is threatened by powerful adversaries.

The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta (St. Martin’s Press)

When a bizarre phenomenon causes the cataclysmic disappearances of numerous people all over the world, Kevin Garvey, the new mayor of a once-comfortable suburban community, struggles to help his neighbors heal while enduring the fanatical religious conversions of his wife and son.

The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams (Bantam Books)

In the sweltering heat of an Atlanta summer, a killer is pushing the city to its breaking point, preying on the unsuspecting, writing taunting letters to the media, promising more death. Desperate to stop the Wishbone Killer before another victim meets a shattering end, A.P.D. lieutenant Aaron Rauser turns to the one person he knows can penetrate a deranged mind: ex–FBI profiler Keye Street.

Kill Me if You Can by James Patterson and Marshall Karp (Little Brown)

A poor art student in New York City discovers a duffel bag full of diamonds in the chaos during an attack at Grand Central Station and is pursued by the Ghost, an assassin who had murdered the bag's owner.

3rd book in this series, formally called A Calamity Jayne Mystery. I found it difficult to get through. It got boring. This is a book in the Stephanie Plum tradition without the fight over boyfriends. The ending picked up and it turned out to be an ok read.

Book 2 in this series. This book kept you guessing. Every time I thought I knew who did it - They died. Using the paranormal to question paranormal makes this a good read. Looking forward to the 3rd book - Sacred Evil to see how things turn out.

The continuing story of the development of Savannah Levine. I got the sense that this was a middle book setting the stage for a big bang end book. There was a lot of character development and new characters added and a hanging type ending.

When Sara Stevenson from an affluent family becomes pregnant by her poor lover, she is exiled by her family to a remote lighthouse on the Scottish coast. There she encounters the lighthouse keeper with his own dark secrets from the past. Although this story is an historical fiction, it has supernatural elements so it becomes somewhat of a ghost story towards the last third of the book.

A mystery thriller with some odd people, but different and contagious. Books with women and children being murdered are not the kind I usually read or recommend, but the setting and the ending are both pretty good and I was glad I kept with it after I read the first chapter or two.

Good first book, easy, cute and actually well written about a young girl from the midwest who goes to live in the same apartment building her deceased mom lived in as a girl. She befriends a writer who has been dead for 30 years who is looking for someone to finish his stories. Far fetched, but okay.

A book of fiction, that reads as fact. The scandal that rocked the Roman Catholic community in 2002 is examined through the experience of a family with three adult children, the oldest of which is a priest accused of inappropriate behavior. Secrets are uncovered and sadness for all involved.

There is a part of the story, when the author is a child, when he desires to find the world beyond the hill. Reading this book, which was an amazing adventure story was like discovering the world, beyond the hills of home.

A four-year-old Boy contracts polio in 1940 and is sent to a Reconstruction Home, where he spends the next year and a half. During that time (this is before Sister Kenny and her revolutionary "hot packs" treatment) young Paddy is immobilized for a while when his legs are encased in plaster casts. Once they are removed, he undergoes therapy for his weakened legs. Loneliness and sorrow for his far-away family add to Paddy's difficulties, but many at the facility are kindhearted and ease his ills. Life gets interesting for Paddy when a somewhat older street-wise boy with spina bifida becomes his roommate. Their exploits are hilarious. This fictionalized autobiography is fast-moving and accurate in its portrayal of the polio treatment at the time. The facility where Paddy stayed is now the Helen Hayes Hospital, renowned during the polio epidemics in the mid-20th-century and today as an outstanding rehab hospital. This book would be of interest to younger readers as well as adults.

During he hot summer days I enjoy reading a book that provides a refreshing chill. Since this book takes place "Mainely" at an Ice arena in Cabot Cove during the winter..it provied me with some "mental" air conditioning. The mystery is simplistic with an array of characters that could have done the "cold" deed. Its a quick, cool read on a hot summer day. Got the book in large print so it was EZ on the eyes too.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Detective Constable Maeve Kerrigan is a very motivated member of the murder task force trying to catch a serial killer who has been stalking, and murdering, the young women in Kensington. Dubbed The Burning Man, the killer beats women to death and then sets their bodies on fire, taking a piece of their jewelry as a trophy. When Kelly Staples stabs a man she believes to be the Burning Man in an alley, a chain of events is set off that has long reaching effects on many lives. When a fourth body appears while the stabbing victim is still in surgery, it is clear that Kelly Staples, acting out of fear, stabbed the wrong man. When a fifth body shows up, everyone is convinced that the Burning Man has struck again, but as Maeve begins to look at the evidence in the newest murder against the others, she sees a shift in the pattern, a shift that makes her believe they may be dealing with a copycat. Jane Casey has already taken UK and European by storm; this fast-paced psychological thriller will win her many new fans on this side of the Atlantic.

Hamlet’s Blackberry: Building a Good life in the Digital Age by William Powers (Harper Perennial, July 2011)

Technology and the ability to stay connected 24/7 can be a wonderful thing; it can also be very debilitating as we find ourselves always on, always connected, unable to escape and finding ourselves more and more dependent on electronic devices. Rather than making us more productive and connected, is it possible these devices offer us more ways to waste time and make us more isolated than ever? William Powers cites examples from great thinkers such as Plato, Seneca, Shakespeare, Ben Franklin and Thoreau, making a case that connectedness can be a very productive, wonderful thing when it is tempered with disconnectedness and a retreat back into the pre-Internet ages. Powers includes Franklin’s thirteen desirable virtues, which Franklin used in combination with a copy of Hamlet’s erasable tables. Powers shows that living purposefully can be achieved by balancing modern technology with the ability to turn off, step back and reconnect with ourselves and those around us. A very approachable, readable disourse, we will all find something our ourselves in Hamlet’s Blackberry.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Here are some new titles coming out this week. Check them out from the library and see where they take you…

Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness by Alexandra Fuller (Penguin Press)

Traces the stories of the author's parents' respective childhoods in Kenya and England, recounts her own upbringing in Africa, and offers insight into the impact of their beliefs and the waning of the British empire on her parents' marriage.

Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs (Scribner)

Forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan investigates a possible FBI cover-up with ties to the disappearance of a NASCAR crew member's sister, a right-wing extremist group, and a secret substance.

The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse that Inspired a Nationby Elizabeth Letts (Ballantine)

Traces the mid-20th-century story of the champion equine jumper and the Dutch farmer who rescued him from the slaughterhouse, recounting how the farmer discovered Snowman's jumping talents and trained him to compete against the world's most expensive thoroughbreds.

The Measure of the Magic: the Legends of Shannaraby Terry Brooks (Del Rey)

Panterra Qu, a newly anointed Knight of the Word who has been entrusted with the last black staff and its powers, must protect thousands of lives that are put in danger when centuries of protective magic disappears.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

In rural New England, there is a veterinarian who has the same worries as a lot of people: that his business will not do well, that he will be unable to afford the taxes on his house and have to move, that he will not be able to keep his wife happy and his family safe. But, there is a certain comforting rhythm to his life that keeps everyone grounded, until he takes his twelve-year-old son Sam hunting and Sam is shot by a grouse hunter, falling out of a tree blind and slipping into a coma. The veterinarian tries to maintain a sense of normalcy for his wife and two daughters while they wait for Sam to awaken, but the spacecraft hovering in the sky is not reassuring him that everything will be okay. An unknown man, but not really a stranger, comes into their midst asking for a favor that will change the way the veterinarian thinks about his family and will make the veterinarian and his wife redefine many things in their lives, including their definition of family and forgiveness.

The narrative is framed by each call the veterinarian receives, or doesn’t receive. It is deceptively simply and at first glance doesn’t look as though the sections will convey enough to create a compelling story, but they slide together slowly, interlocking, creating a story told with honesty and an unexpected intensity.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Friday, August 12, 2011

I was just reviewing this for a write up and was delighted to realize I felt an immediate fondness for different parts of it--I could've read it all over again! Reads and feels like a dated book (1987), but the writing doesn't disappoint. A highly creative premise and story that keeps you glued and uttering "hunh," to yourself. Best described by Carl Hiaasen: "...a fearsomely funny oasis where Gilligan wouldn't survive the first luau, but where Ivan Boesky or Oliver North might feel right at home. A wild and terrific book."

Author: John Boyne
Stars: 5
Review by: ddlesmom
Destination: GermanySet during World War II, a story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.

Here are some new titles coming out this week. Check them out from the library and see where they take you…

It’s a short list this week but never fear, the Fall list is just around the corner!

The Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind (Tor)

A deep underground machine awakens after thousands of years and foretells ominous events including a catastrophic prediction involving Richard Cypher and Kahlan Amnell.

Ready Player Oneby Ernest Cline (Crown)

Immersing himself in a mid-twenty-first-century technological virtual utopia to escape an ugly real world of famine, poverty, and disease, Wade Watts joins an increasingly violent effort to solve a series of puzzles by the virtual world's creator.

About whitewater rafting. Read this in audiobook format. It took me a while to accept the narrator, but eventually the story took hold of me and I no longer concerned myself with the quality of the performance. This book has an interesting, surprising ending. It will put you on the river to some extent, but the primary focus is on the characters. If you're into psychology and relationships with a little adventure on the side, this book may be for you.

Author: Jeannette Walls
Stars: 5
Review by: NancyW
Destination: Arizona, WV, NYCThis book is a vivid description of Ms Walls early life. The details are fascinating, as are the descriptions of places that she lived. It makes me think about people and their motivations. For instance, how does someone coming from such a dysfunctional family become a successful author? My answer is that her parents always valued books and learning, even if they didn't provide the necessities of life.

A great book, Albom profiles two people: a rabbi for whom he has been asked to write a eulogy, and an inner-city convict turned pastor. Two very different worlds, two different religions, but one strongly shared similarity: faith.

Author: Jacques d'Amboise
Stars: 5
Review by: Jelsey
Destination: NYC & around the worldThis memoir by former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, Jacques d'Amboise, is an inside look at the world of classical ballet in the 20th century. It is full of insider stories of the great choreographer George Balanchine, impresario Lincoln Kirstein, and the renowned dancers of the era. It is a fascinating study of the development of a young neighborhood tough into the brilliant dancer on whom the fabled Balanchine created the most works. This is a big book with lots of photos, and I loved it.

Maybe it's because this is at its essence a book for kids. Maybe it's because I couldn't look at this book as a novel concept, given that the Japanese cult classic, Battle Royale, is a favorite film of mine. To be quite honest, I still have a hard time believing author Collins came up with the idea for the book on her own, given that Takami Koushun's novel was published over a decade ago, and its film adaptation has garnered international acclaim. Overall, I was not a fan of this book.

The greatest weakness that I perceived in Collins's novel is her inability to properly complement the dark themes of the gladiator competition with the characters of her protagonists and their Capitol audience. I imagine the author might argue that it was her intention to portray ignorance and bloodthirstiness in her reality-TV audience, but most of the Capitol's characters felt unrealistically one-dimensional and downright silly. The Games' participants, as well, similarly lacked a sense of depth as characters (surprisingly, given the enormity of the difficulties they faced).

Finally, I believe that the story suffered from predictability. Just like the young protagonists of Harry Potter, heroine Katniss Everdeen runs into a multitude of lucky situations that take the Games far beyond their standard run. At the beginning of the Games, we understand that there are some very difficult actions that each participant will have to take if they want to survive, yet Collins enables Katniss to happily progress through the tournament while avoiding the most heart-wrenching and morally ambiguous possibilities.

Author: Ransom Riggs
Stars: 4
Review by: Mich D
Destination: WalesGreat little fantasy book based on REAL photographs. About a boy who discovers the truth behind his grandfather's childhood stories. Building a story around the photos is fantastic!

I really enjoyed it! Very interesting to go back in time to the early 30's to experience NYC & Europe along with Florence, she is quite a character! Loved how Lily sewed up the ending. This is a must read for all who enjoy history and living vicariously through a real life main character.

Author: Annie Ernaux
Stars: 4
Review by: smudge
Destination: FranceThis is a sparely written, very short, portrait of the writer's mother. The story begins with the mother's death and travels backward to paint a picture of the emotions that created their mother-daughter relationship. It was, for me, a sad story because "her voice, together with her words, her hands and her way of moving and laughing, which linked the woman I am to the child I once was" made me mourn what will one day be true for me and my children.

Now that the final book and movie are done, I've decided to (finally) begin reading the Harry Potter series. I now understand what all the fuss is about. What a delightful ride ~ can't wait to start on Book #2.

Author: Geraldine Brooks
Stars: 5
Review by: SCL
Destination: Sarajevo & ItalyWhile a book about an old book may sound boring, this was anything but. The modern forensic search for clues entwined with stories of old was fascinating. I learned some history and was entertained as well. I highly recommend that you give it a try.

Author: Avery Aames
Stars: 4
Review by: L.Z.
Destination: Ohio Silly, hard to believe, pretty far fetched...a fun, quick read! Set in a small Ohio town, it's a murder mystery that revolves around a cheese shop owner and her community. First in a series that I will probably continue reading.

I must give this author credit for creativity...there are so many cozy mysteries now that finding a new theme is difficult. This author plants the scene at a NJ Guesthouse near the shore with live-in ghosts of people who died in the house before being purchased by Alison with her daughter, Melissa. The ghosts help her solve murders but its not as easy as you may think...the newly deceased are bound by laws and limits that make for comical scenes and problems to be solved, hence my praise for this author's creativity. This is the second book in what I hope is a "long-lived" (pardon the pun) series.

Such a wonderfully written and hysterical play. While I was in high school this was one of the plays we did, and I remember just laughing so hard and loving it. Recently I was able to watch the movie and decided to reread the play for old times sake--and I'm so glad I did. It made me laugh just like it always did. The general plot is about the Brewster family in the 1940s in Brooklyn, NY. Aunt Martha and Aunt Abby Brewster are sweet old ladies who take care of many neighbors and members of the community, but have one little quirk--they poison men and bury them in their basement. Add to that 3 nephews--1 named Teddy who thinks he's President Teddy Roosevelt (and yells "charge!" with his sword drawn every time he runs up the stairs because he is charging up San Juan Hill), another named Johnathon who is a horrible person and a maniacal murderer, and the last named Mortimer who is a play critic and stuck in the middle of all of this. Mortimer sums up the family best when he says "Insanity runs in my family. In fact, it practically gallops!" Great fun, laugh out loud funny, and a quick read--definitely worth it!

Author: Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Stars: 2
Review by: Mich D
Destination: NY & ChinaA bit disappointing because I really like other titles by this author. About a guy working alone who has to track down something hidden on a man coming from another country. The main character has lots of great spy skills, but the action was unbelievable and I didn't like the main character too much so it was hard to root for him.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

The main character, Christine, wakes every morning with no memory of the last 20 years of her life. Think of the Drew Barrymore movie 50 First Dates projected 20 years into the future. But this book is not as happy and fluffy as the movie. There is a good deal of mystery involved as the reader reconstructs Christine's life at the same time and pace that she does herself.

For 3/4 of the book, I thought I had it all figured out, but boy, was I wrong! This is an awesome debut by S.J. Watson, and I hope he writes more books of this quality in the future.

The third book in Paul Reiser's "--hood" collection. Not as funny or entertaining as his first two books, but still a decent read. Like the first two, you can hear his voice on every page, and there were a few spots that made me chuckle, but compared to his first two, it just didn't match up. Again, he uses his own life experiences, but this time I found this to be more of a confessional of how much he loves his kids and how he loves being a parent, more than the true adventures of "familyhood". With the first two he takes you on the really funny ride of being in a couple and the new adventures of being a parent. And you can tell that while he is happy in both of those stages, he also lovingly pokes fun at himself and sort of asks, why do we do this to ourselves? But, in this book I found it more to be a, 'my life is so wonderful, everyone should have kids, my kids are so fantastic, brag book'. And while there were parts that made me chuckle, it just wasn't the same feeling. He went from, why do we do this to ourselves? in his first 2 books, to almost preaching why shouldn't we do this to ourselves? Every parent thinks their child(ren) are great (as they should), but to put a whole book out there to talk about it is kind of annoying. I was looking for the same kind of funny book about the adventures and trials and tribulations of raising a family, and all that it means to be in "familyhood", not so much how rosy and wonderful it feels to be a parent and how fantastic his 2 individual children are. It wasn't a horrible book by any means, and still a quick read, but it just wasn't as funny as his first 2, and I was expecting different from him. It left me wanting a little more from him.

The second book by Paul Reiser, and even better than his first. In his first book he takes you on the journey of what it means to go from single life to "couplehood" and now he takes you into the world of babies and kids. Again, drawing on his own real life experiences and life observations he takes the audience on a funny ride of "babyhood". Again, very witty and laugh out loud funny in spots. Just like in his first book, you'll find yourself saying, 'Oh that is so true' and 'Glad to know it's not just me'. If you were/are a Mad About You and/or Paul Reiser fan, than you will completely appreciate his books--you can hear his voice on every page. It's as if he is speaking the entire book to you. A great, funny, easy read.

Paul Reiser writes a funny and witty book on what it's like to date and marry, and be a "couple". He uses his real life experiences with his wife, and draws on actual life observations to show the difference between single life and "coupledom". A very quick read and laugh out loud funny in spots. This is the first of his 3 books.

Stephanie Plum is the queen of sheer zaniness. In this Between the Numbers short novel, she is forced to team up with the gorgeous but spooky Diesel to capture her only bailbond skipper, Annie, who refuses to be found until all her clients are assured a happy Valentine's Day. Stephanie finagles dates for a shy butcher, a 40-year old virgin, and a mom with a house full of kids and animals. Diesel's special "Unmentionable" powers don't stop Annie from being kidnapped by a local mob boss; nor do they prevent one of Annie's unhappy clients, another "Unmentionable", from making everyone in his immediate vicinity break out in hives. Meanwhile, Annie's last client, Stephanie's sister's boyfriend, needs the forces of Lulu, Connie and Grandma Mazer to get up enough nerve to get married.

Author: Allison Hoover Bartlett
Stars: 3
Review by: Little Red Hen
Destination: CaliforniaThis story would not have been possible with the Kindle. It is easy to understand John Gilkey's obsession with owning rare books even if it meant stealing them; also understandable is Ken Saunders, a rare book dealer/detective who is determined to prevent Gilkey's damaging ways. If you love the pleasure of book books, you will be fascinated with the clever Gilkey and identify with the anger of antiquarian book dealers who see their volumes disappear.

A sad story of a little girl born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a brittle bone disorder. Makes you look at your aches and pains in a new light. I even made the Blueberry Peach Buckle featured on page 410 to serve to friends yesterday.

Were you in high school or older in the early sixties? Antiwar? Demonstrator? This novel captures an unsettling time in our history, experienced by one seemingly 'perfect' family. Beautifully written. A remarkable novel. HIGHLY recommended.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

This story is about the difficulties of the in-law relationship as seen through the eyes of three brothers, their wives and their parents. I've read other works by Joanna Trollope and this one is just as interesting as the others. I rated it 3.5 because I was not fully satisfied with the ending.

Reading this required a stretch of the imagination. Would these characters really meet up with others who so neatly and unbelievably carry the story forward? The best part is the end. I was glad when I reached it.

Really good book--written for YA, but still can and should be read by adults. About a girl entering her freshman year of high school and while dealing with all the trials and tribulations that go along with that experience alone, she is also dealing with a past sexual assault. The author does a brilliant job of showing her emotions, thoughts, and feelings in a very real way--truly like a victim. At the end of the book are statistics about such violent acts in our country and why we need to dicuss such important issues with our young girls/women. Very moving and very thought provoking. A friend of mine who is a 7th and 8th grade English teacher recommended it to me, and she wishes she could teach it to her kids. There's something to be said for the classics, but there's more to be said for important issues like this.

This is about more than buying and remodeling a villa in Cortona. It is a read rich with references to other writers, garden history, recipes. It is a primer on the Tuscan way of life, how villages are human, how people talk with each other, about the importance of eating together, of careful selection of wine and olive oil. It is a fast and delightful read.

Author: Bill White
Stars: 3
Review by: BobBookWorm
Destination: The world of Major League Baseball

Written by a local resident (Chalfont PA), details early life and the racism pervasive in the South at the time. Continuing through his major league career for 13 seasons, and his role as Phil Rizzuto's sidekick on the Yankee broadcasts. Great insight into Bart Giamatti former Commissioner and father of the actor Paul. Great inside stories about the Scooter. Finally explores racism that still exists in the executive suites of Major League Baseball and the elimination of the role of the Commissioner of Baseball. A good reminder to those who forget including me.

The 5th book in this series. More solo action from our main character and less dependence on romance. Although it does add subtle humor to the book. Makes you really think about family and business. Fun summer read.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Here are some new titles coming out this week. Check them out from the library and see where they take you…

The Magician King by Lev Grossman (Viking)

In this sequel to The Magicians, Quentin and his friends are now the kings and queens of Fillory, but the days and nights of royal luxury are starting to pall. After a morning hunt takes a sinister turn, Quentin and his old friend Julia charter a magical sailing ship and set out on an errand to the wild outer reaches of their kingdom. Their pleasure cruise becomes an adventure when the two are unceremoniously dumped back into the last place Quentin ever wants to see: his parent's house in Chesterton, Massachusetts. And only the black, twisted magic that Julia learned on the streets can save them.

As Luke and Ben Skywalker pursue the formidable dark-side being Abeloth, the Lost Tribe of the Sith is about to be sundered by an even greater power—which will thrust one Dark Lord into mortal conflict with his own flesh-and-blood. On Coruscant, a political vacuum has left tensions at the boiling point, with factions racing to claim control of the Galactic Alliance. Suddenly surrounded by hidden agendas, treacherous conspiracies, and covert Sith agents, the Jedi Order must struggle to keep the GA government from collapsing into anarchy. The Jedi are committed to maintaining peace and ensuring just rule, but even they are not prepared to take on the combined threats of Sith power, a deposed dictator bent on galaxy wide vengeance, and an entity of pure cunning and profound evil hungry to become a god.

Girls in White Dressesby Jennifer Close (Knopf)

Attending an endless series of bridal showers for their friend Kristi, three bridesmaids struggle with private challenges, including Isabella's unhappiness at a job where she is nevertheless very successful, Mary's relationship with a man who prioritizes his mother and Lauren's attraction to a man she despises.

The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood (Dutton)

Dr. Ellie Sullivan has just completed her residency at a large urban hospital. While jogging in a park nearby, she witnesses the shooting of an FBI agent in pursuit of wanted criminals, a couple identified as the Landrys. The only person to see the shooter's face, Ellie is suddenly at the center of a criminal investigation. Agent Max Daniels takes over the Landry case. A no-nonsense lawman, he's definitely not the ideal man that Ellie has always imagined, yet she's attracted to him in a way she can't explain. Ellie heads home to Winston Falls, South Carolina, to attend her sister's wedding. Shortly after she arrives, though, she receives a surprise visitor: Max Daniels. The Landrys have been captured, and she'll be called to testify. But they've been captured before, and each time the witnesses are scared into silence-or disappear before they can take the stand. Max vows to be Ellie's shadow until the trial, and it isn't long before sparks fly.

Family Fang by Kevin Wilson (Ecco)

Performance artists Caleb and Camille Fang dedicated themselves to making great art. But when an artist’s work lies in subverting normality, it can be difficult to raise well-adjusted children. Just ask Buster and Annie Fang. For as long as they can remember, they starred (unwillingly) in their parents’ madcap pieces. But now that they are grown up, the chaos of their childhood has made it difficult to cope with life outside the fishbowl of their parents’ strange world. When the lives they’ve built come crashing down, brother and sister have nowhere to go but home, where they discover that Caleb and Camille are planning one last performance–their magnum opus–whether the kids agree to participate or not. Soon, ambition breeds conflict, bringing the Fangs to face the difficult decision about what’s ultimately more important: their family or their art.

Build a Better World

The 11th Annual Adult Summer Reading Club has come to a close.

The club's 157 members have read a total of 1,515 books!

Thank you, all, for your enthusiastic participation.

Quote to Inspire

"Fiction, imaginative work that is, is not dropped like a pebble upon the ground, as science may be; fiction is like a spider’s web, attached ever so lightly perhaps, but still attached to life at all four corners."~Virginia Woolf

11th Annual

To see a larger image of this graph, look through the member reviews. It will usually be posted on Friday afternoons.

How to Use this Blog:

To post a review for a book, please submit it via the "Finished a Book" link from the club's webpage: http://www.hclibrary.us/asrc.htm.

Because all posts & comments must be approved by the library, and because the librarians sometimes take summer vacations too, there will be a delay before you see your submission on the blog. Please be patient; your review will appear.